Envelope banding machine



March 3, 1964 K. STEMMLER ENVELOPE BANDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20. 19616 Sheets-Shaet l March 3, 1964 K. STEMMLER ENVELOPE BANDING MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1961 March 3, 19 K. STEMMLER ENVELOPEBANDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 20, 1961 March 3, 1964 'K.STEMMLER ENVELOPE BANDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 20. 1961March 3, 1964 STEMMLER 3,122,870

ENVELOPE BANDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 3,1964 K. STEMMLER 3,122,870

ENVELOPE BANDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 20. 1961 UnitedStates Patent 3,122,870 ENVELOPE BANDENG MAQHINE Kurt Stemmler, Dedham,Mass, assignor to Boston Envelope Company, Dedham, Mass, a corporationof Massachusetts Filed Sept, 2t), 1961, Ser. No. 139,435 13 Claims. (Cl.53l98) This invention is an improved banding machine for envelopes andlike articles. Such machines automatically apply and secure a wrappingband of paper tape or similar material around a stack of envelopes orsimilar articles, to produce a bundle containing a predetermined numberof such articles which can be handled thereafter as a unit. Many priormachines for this purpose are relatively slow in operation, undependablein action and require the constant attention of an operator in order toperform reliably.

The term envelope is intended herein to include all articles of likefiat character such as cards, folders, mailing pieces, etc. which areadapted to be banded in the manner here discussed.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an envelopebanding machine which is capable of operatin reliably at much higherspeeds than heretofore, that is, counting and banding on the order of1,000 envelopes per minute. 'lhus, a banding machine of this inventionmay be used directly following a modern high speed envelope producingmachine, a printing press, or other processing machine for the articlesto be banded.

Another object is to provide a machine which may be adjusted readily tovary the count or number of envelopes in stacks being banded, forexample over a range as high as 36 envelopes per bundle and as low asenvelopes per bundle.

A further object is to make provision for accommodating a wide varietyof sizes and types of envelopes in a banding machine without makingmajor alterations to the necessary mechanisms.

Still another object of this invention is to utilize the forces ofgravity and the motion and position of the stacks or bundles ofenvelopes within the machine to perform some of the band wrapping andband sealing operations. In this way costly and complicated mechanismsfor these purposes heretofore required are eliminated.

A still further object is to provide a compact machine which will occupya comparatively small floor space and which may be moved from onelocation to another to serve different envelope manufacturing machines,presses, or other processing equipment as occasion demands.

These and incidental objects are met according to one example of theinvention by providing an open envelope collecting station wherepreviously counted envelopes are collected in vertical stacks ofhorizontally arranged envelopes. When a full desired count is reached, arotatable transporting frame is indexed 90 to move the stack upward andaway from the collecting station in an arcuate path, thus clearing thecollecting station for another stack without interrupting the countingand collecting. Most of the band wrapping operation is accomplished nearthe end of the arcuate motion by engagement of the moving stack againsta freely suspended precut and preglued wrapping 'band arranged in thepath of movement of the stack. Elements which complete the wrapping ofthe band around the stack serve to hold the bundle after it is wrappedand before pressure is applied to seal the glue on the band. Pressure isapplied to seal each bundle by pressing the following bundle against apreviously wrapped bundle. According to the preferred form of thisinvention improved mechanisms also are provided for feeding, cutting,holding and apply-ing a spot of glue to the wrapping band.

The above objects, other objects and advantages and further details ofthat which is believed to be novel and included in this invention willbe clear from the following description and claims, taken with theaccompanying drawings in which is illustrated an example of envelopebanding machine embodying the present invention and incorporating therotatable transporting frame and other improvements noted above.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of an envelope banding machine in aposition of rest, together with an envelope feeding and countingarrangement which may be used to supply the banding machine;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the banding ma chine of FIG. 1 onthe line 2-4. thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the banding machine similar to PEG.1 but showing parts in a position they assume while a stack of envelopesis being wrapped with a band;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG.1 showing in plan vie-w parts of the preferred band cutting, glueapplying and band holding mechanisms in the machine;

PEG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of these mechanisms on the line 5-5of FIG. 4 in a position of rest;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view at right angles to FIG. 5 and on theline 6@ thereof showing mainly the arrangement for holding the wrappingband;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section like part of FIG. 5 but showing parts inthe positions they occupy when the band is being cut and glue applied;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the prin cipal active partsillustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7, for cutting, holding and gluing theband;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of the envelope banding machine from adirection opposite that of FIG. 2 illus-v trating driving mechanisms andarrangements for the machine;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the drive on the line l016 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of a typical cam-controlled switch used inthe drive, for example as indicated opposite line 11l1 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the upper envelope :band applyingmechanisms, these parts being shown in elevation near the top of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a vertical section on line 13-13 of FIG. 12 showing the upperband applying mechanism;

FlG. 14 is a vertical section on the line l414 of FIG. 12 on a furtherenlarged scale, showing parts of both the upper and lower band applyingmechanisms;

FlG. 16 is a horizontal section or plan view on the line 1515 of FIG. 14showing the lower parts of the envelope banding mechanism;

FlG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing some of the principalelements for transporting stacks of envelopes in the banding machine;

FIG. 17 is a vertical section like FIG. 14 but with band applyingelements in the positions they occupy just before a stack of envelopesis to be wrapped in a band;

FIG. 18 is a view like FIG. 17 but with the parts just as the wrappingof a band is being started;

FIG. 19 is like P16. 17 with the parts in the stage closely followingthat of FIG. 18;

P16. 20 is also like FIG. 17 but showing the parts at a point where thewrap of the band has been completed at the bottom and is about to becompleted at the top of a stack envelopes, and

FIG. 21 is a perspective View showing parts at the starting end orenvelope collecting station of the machine.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, in one preferredembodiment thereof a base or supporting frame 26 carries all of theother parts of the machine unless otherwise indicated.

The key elements of this machine, the ones which determine the natureand action of all the rest, are those involved in moving the stacks ofenvelopes from the station or location where they are collected to thestation or location where banded bundles of envelopes leave the machine.Although illustrated in other figures of the drawings, FIG. 16 showsthese elements apart from the rest so that their nature and relationshipmay be readily understood. Horizontally journalled as at 27 in the baseis a rotatable envelope transporting frame 28 with similar cross shapedend pieces 29 and 39. Each end piece has four identical radiallyextending arms 31 at right angles to each other. Joining the ends ofopposite arms on the end pieces are cross rods 32 which are suitablyrotatably mounted as in bearings 33. Secured to each rotatable cross rod32 so as to move therewith are a pair of spaced parallel stack liftingblades or fingers 34. One end of each cross rod is extended through itsbearing 33 outside of the end piece 29 and a cam follower arm 36 isfixed to this end of the cross rod. In operation, a main cam followersurface 37 on the end of arm 36 engages against a stationary cam 38 andthereby controls the position of the stack lifting blades during certainpositions of rotation of the transporting frame 28 as will be later madeapparent. A secondary cam follower surface 39 on the arm 36 serves toinitiate reverse movement of the blades 34 by engagement with a camreversing guide 41 at another position of rotation. Each cam followerarm with its attached cross rod and stack lifting blades is biased in aclockwise direction toward a retracted position by means of a tensionspring 42 extending between an anchor pin 43 on the cam follower arm anda supporting post 44 which may be provided on each of the arms 31 of theend piece 29.

Obviously other cross rods like the cross rods 32, but not rotatable,may extend between the end pieces 29 and 30 to hold them in properlyfixed and spaced relationship with respect to each other so that thetransporting frame 28 including both end pieces will be rotatable as aunit in the journal 27, being driven in a counter-clockwise direction bythe main driving shaft 46.

For purposes of illustration there is shown in FIG. 1 an arrangement forcounting and feeding envelopes to the banding machine. The exact natureof this arrangement is not of importance'here because the bandingmachine may be used in connection with envelope handling or processingapparatus of any sort which will feed envelopes one by one horizontallyand will generate a starting impulse or signal whenever the desiredcount for a stack of envelopes has been reached. In the exemplarycounting and feeding arrangement envelopes are suitably dealt one by oneas by a picker 47 from the bottom of a pile or stack of envelopes E anddriven between a roll 43 and a guide chute 49 to the top of ahorizontally moving conveyor belt or chain 51 having locating pins 52thereon winch pick up each envelope and move it toward the bandingmachine. A positioning spring brush 53 arranged above the conveyor maybe used to align the envelopes properly against the pins 52 just beforeeach envelope passes between a light source 54 and a photoelectric cells near the end of the conveyor. As each envelope passes the light beamcoming from the source 54 it interrupts that beam and causes a signal tobe pro duced in the photo cell 56 in a manner well known in the art. Ina like well known manner the signals from the photo cell are counted asin a commercially available electronic impulse counter of the necessarytype which is adjustable to give an output signal or impulse afterreceiving a preselected proper number of input signals. This outputsignal is used to operate the envelope banding machine and itconstitutes the only necessary interconnection between the drive for theenvelope feeding and counting arrangement and the drive for the bandingmaclnne, these instrumentalities being otherwise entirely independentalthough timed to operate generally at compatible rates of speed.Individual envelopes may be discharged from the conveyor as by a highspeed discharge roll 57 having a cooperating idler 58 so that eachenvelope is ejected rapidly toward the loading or collecting station ofthe banding machine.

As the envelopes are counted and reach the banding machine one by onefrom the feeding and counting arrangement above described or in someother fashion, they are collected in a vertical stack of horizontallyarranged envelopes as at S, being received upon stationary spaced tablestrips 5% suitably supported by the base 26 outside of the path ofmovement of the rotatable frame 28. Spaces between the table strips 59allow for free movement of the extended stack lifting fingers 34therethrough so that a stack of envelopes collected on the table stripsmay he lifted therefrom when the transporting frame is rotated and thefingers or blades pass by the table strips. Adjustable side guidingplates 61 help to hold envelopes in proper position at the collectingstation formed above the table strips, and a constantly downwardlydriven aligning belt 52 (indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1) mayfurther align the envelopes and keep the top envelope in the stack fromaccidentally interfering with the next incoming envelope as the stack isbeing built up. The opposite edges of the stacked envelopes S abutagainst the lower ends of a pair of arcuate stationary guiding strips 63which have curved surfaces coinciding with the arc of swing of the stacklifting blades 34 for purposes which will be later apparent. As may beseen most easily in FIGS. 2 and 12, the guiding strips 53, althoughfollowing the arc of movement of the blades 34, are located on eitherside of the path of movement of the blades and do not interferetherewith.

Table strips 59, side plates 61, aligning belt 62 and the lower ends ofarcuate guide strips 63 define a roughly rectangular area, open at itstop, which serves as an envelope collecting station or location intowhich envelopes are fed horizontally and held in proper stacked positionfor later lifting by the stack lifting fingers 34. Before the machine isstarted, side plates 61 are set in a position to accommodate the lengthor width of envelopes being banded, and the belt 62 or equivalentaligning means is also adjustably mounted in any suitable manner forpositioning toward or away from the guide strips 63 to match the heightof the envelopes being processed.

These are the only adjustments necessary in adapting the machine to banda relatively wide range of envelope sizes and shapes. 7

Before or while a stack of envelopes is being built up at the collectingstation, the envelope transporting frame is rotated so that a pair ofthe stack lifting blades is positioned in the spaces between the tablestrips and at the same level, being held in that position, extendingradially from the arms 3%, by engagement of cam follower 3'7 with themain cam 38. The transporting frame and other moving parts of thebanding machine are timed and driven through a constantly motor drivenpower shaft 64 intermittently driving a pulley 66 which is engaged ordisengaged from the power shaft by action of a magnetic clutch 57. Whenthe clutch is in engaged position the pulley is driven to move a largerpulley wheel 68 through a belt 69, and this ultimately rotates the maindriving shaft 46 through one quarter turn to rotate or index theenvelope transporting frame through an arc of which is one banding cycleof the machine. The driving and precise positioning of the transportingframe in each 90 cycle or increment of movement may be obtained asthrough a pulley shaft 71 driven by the pulley wheel 68 which in turndrives a Geneva gear driving disc 72 fixed on the shaft. The drivingdisc has a driving pin 73 engageable with the driving slots of a Genevagear 74 of conventional construction. The Geneva gear is fixed to thedriving shaft 46 so that each time that the pulley shaft 71 rotates oncethe driving shaft turns ninety degrees. A single revolution control isprovided for the pulley shaft through a stop cam 76 mounted on the endof the shaft, this cam controlling the action of a switch 77 for amagnetic brake 73 so that each time the shaft is rotated the cam Willoperate the switch and the switch will apply the brake to preventoverrunning. Obviously, the clutch 67 and brake 78 are so connectedelectrically that the clutch and the brake will function properly, without interference.

As previously described, an output signal will be produced from anelectronic counter every time a preset number of impulses has beenreceived from the photoelectric cell 56. This indicates that the propernumber of envelopes or other articles has been collected for a bundleand the output signal will be used to engage clutch 67 and release brake78 to start a banding cycle. As the frame 2% is rotated through itsincrement of 90 the radially extended stack lifting blades at thecollection station quickly raise the stack of envelopes S out of the wayof further incoming envelopes and swing the stack of counted envelopesin an arc, moving the envelopes in the stack from horizontal towardvertical position. During this movement, centrifugal force will tend tomove the individual envelopes outwardly from the axis of rotation of thetransporting frame but they are held against flying outwardly by a pairof upper arcuate guiding bars or strips 79 spaced outwardly from andarranged generally parallel to the guides 63. The lower ends of theguides 79 start above the envelope collecting station so that envelopesare free to enter, and at those ends the guides 79 are spaced radiallyfrom the guides 63 somewhat more widely than they are spaced apart attheir upper ends, as shown in the drawing. This leaves a taperedconverging arcuate guiding path for the stack of envelopes andcentrifugal force against the envelopes throws them outwardly and jogsto align or straighten them with respect to each other as they are beingraised. This obviates any later hand or machine jogging of bandedenvelopes which is necessary in some prior machines.

The lower curved guides 63 lead to and are tangent in their curvaturewith a horizontal bundle receiving or delivery table 81 fixed to theframe of the machine. The guides 79 may be extended for a short distancehorizontally above the receiving table but their function has ceasedwhen once a band is wrapped around a stack of envelopes. When a countedstack is approaching the ends of the curved portions of the guides 63and 79 it strikes against a freely suspended precut and preglued lengthof paper tape or similar material 82 lightly frictionally held (by meanswhich will later be described) in the center of the path of movement ofthe stacked envelopes. As will be understood most readily with referenceto FIGS. 12 through 15 and the series of FIGURES 17 through 20, the bandis applied by movement of the stack against the band and between apivoted lower band applying element 83 and a pivoted upper band applyingelement 84. The lower band applying element 83' is pivoted to themachine frame as at 86 at a point below the bundle receiving table andhas an actuating arm 87 extending on the other side of the pivot in thepath of movement of the cross rods 32 on the envelope transporting frameso that each time a pair of lifting blades 34 approaches the positionwhere its stack of envelopes is about to be wrapped with a band, the endof the arm 87 will be struck and moved outwardly by the moving cross rod32 extending between the radial arms 31 which precede the arms carryingthe stack. This retracts the band applying element 83 below the guides63 and out of the path of movement of the stack of envelopes. Previouslybundled envelopes are held in position as by light spring 6 hooks 83 atthe end of the table 81 which are capable of being pushed out of the wayby the Weight of envelopes reaching the table but which catch under theedges of bundled envelopes and prevent them from sliding off the table.

Soon after this in the progress of movement of the transporting framethe tips of the arms 34 will strike against lifter extensions 89 on theupper band applying element 34, raising this element away from the topof the moving stack (see FIG. 18) by pivoting element 84 about its pivot91. The upper edges of previously wrapped bundles are prevented fromshifting when element 84 is raised by providing upper light spring hookswhich may be like the spring hooks 88 or in the form of the pivotedspring pressed hooks 92 shown in FIG. 13.

While the stack of envelopes is being moved between the lowered bandapplying element 83 and the raised band applying element 84 the strip ofpaper tape 82 is being carried by the envelope stack and guidedgenerally around the bottom and top thereof by the elements 83 and 84respectively. A point will soon be reached when the band 82 will bepulled free from the means frictionally holding it and the partiallybanded bundle will reach the bundle receiving table 81 as shown in FIG.19. At that point the preceding cross rod 32. on the transporting framewill ride out from under the end of actuating arm 87 of element 83 andspring 93 Will pull the arm and lift the band applying element 83' sothat its forming tip folds the bottom end of the band 82 upwardly aroundthe bundle as indicated in FIG. 20. At almost this same instant, buttimed so as to occur just after restoration of the element 33, the camfollower 37 controlling the lifting blades 34 which have been moving thestack of envelopes, will ride off sharp edge 94 of the came 38, allowingthe spring 42 to rotate the cross rod 32 and move the blades 3 clockwiseaway from the bundle. As this happens, the ends of the blades will fallaway from the lifter extensions 89 of the element 84- and spring 96 willrock the element about its pivot, lowering its forming tip to fold theupper end of band 82 downwardly against the bundle in overlappingarrangement with the previously folded lower end of the band. A spot ofglue G has been previously applied to what is now the inner side of theupper end of the band but the ends of the band have not been pressedtogether to perfect their sealing. The sealing of the band on apreviously wrapped bundle B was accomplished at the stage of FIG. 19when a following stack of partially wrapped envelopes was pushed by theblades 34 against the previously banded stack.

The blades 34, after retraction at the top of the transporting frame,remain retracted so that on the next indexing of the frame they willclear the underside of the bundle receiving table $1. In subsequentindexing of the transporting frame the secondary cam follower 39 on thecam follower arm 36 will engage against the reset guide 41 as seen inFIG. 3 and start to swing the cross rod 32 counterclockwise to move thestack lifting blades 34 back toward their radially extending position.Further indexing of the rotatable transporting frame brings the main camfollower surface 37 against a curved blade resetting surface 97 on cam38 leading to the segmental circular surface 98 of the cam. When the camfollower 37 is riding on the circular surface 98 the blades 34 are heldin their fully radially extended stack lifting position as they approachthe envelope collecting station or location at the table strips 59.

It is essential to the present invention that proper arrangements beprovided for supplying the paper tape for the banding operation, forcutting it to proper length, for applying a glue spot thereto and forholding it ready for use in banding a stack of envelopes. Details of apreferred novel arrangement are illustrated in FIGS. 2, 9 and 10 of thedrawings, as to the drive for supplying the tape, and in FIGS. 1 andFIGS. 4 through 8 as to devices for cutting, applying glue and holdingthe precut and required by the envelope counting instrumentalities.

Mounted on the shaft 71 is a pulley gear 101 meshing with a transfergear Hi2 on a separate shaft 193. Reduction gear 194, also on shaft1'93, engages a drive gear 106 on a shaft 167 which also carries aGeneva driving disc 198 having a driving pin 110 cooperating with theslots of tape driving Geneva gear Hi9 mounted on shaft 111. One quarterturn of shaft 111, caused by one quarter turn of the Geneva gear, willactuate a gear train 1122 resulting ultimately in driving of the tapefor banding. In the arrangement shown, the gear train 112 starts with agear 113 on shaft 111 and works through gears 114 and 115 on a shaft1.16, gears 117 and 11-8 on shaft 119 and gear 12% on a bevel gear driveshaft 121. Shaft 121 carries a bevel gear 122 at its end matching withbevel gear 123 at the lower end of upright shaft 124 which carriesanother bevel 125 at its upper end. Another matching bevel gear 126 isrotated by bevel gear 125 to drive a final tape driving shaft 127 onwhich a tape driving roller 128 is fixed.

The above described arrangement is such that a single rotation of thepulley shaft 71 produces one rotation of the Geneva driving disc Hi8 anda quarter turn of Geneva gear 1109. This quarter turn, through the geartrain 112, results in a sufficient number of rotations or revolutions ofthe tape driving roller 128 to drive the tape for the required distanceto supply a complete band for a stack of envelopes. The tape or bandingmaterial T comes from a large supply reel (not shown) to the tapedriving roller 128 and a cooperating spring pressed tape drive idler129, being guided to this location by a tape guiding chute 130, only theend of which is illustrated in the drawings. For proper driving, theroller 128 is faced or coated with rubber or some similar frictionproducing material.

The end of the tape guiding chute 130 and the tape driving roller 128with its cooperating idler 129 are located immediately above the tapecutter and holder, comprising principally a fixed cutting edge 131extending across the width of the tape, a reciprocating knife 132 with abiased cutting edge 133 cooperating with the fixed edge 131 and aswinging tape holding element 134 arranged below the knife. The knife isnormally held away from its cutting position as by a retracting spring135 extending between an anchor on the machine frame and a post on theknife blade and is moved toward the cutting position shown in FIG. 7 byenergization of the winding of a solenoid 137 having a reciprocatingknife driving core 138 and its own retracting spring 139.

The tape holder 134 is pivoted as at 141 near its bot tom edge and isnormally held in an upright tape receiving position as by a leaf spring142. bearing thereagainst and forcing the free end of the tape holderagainst a suitable stop Wall or shoulder. The outer face of the tapeholder is designed to serve as a guide for the tape as it is beingdriven and for this purpose is provided with an upper curved edge 143and a pair of side tape guiding and holding arms 144 made of thin springmetal curved outwardly at their upper ends as at 146 and anchored neartheir lower ends as at 147 on the tape holder on either side of theintended path of movement of the tape. Spring arms 144 are carefullypositioned and adjusted not only to guide the tape properly across theface of the tape holder 1% but also to exert sufficient friction againstthe tape to hold a cut length suspended from the holder in properposition for banding a stack of envelopes moved thereagainst aspreviously explained.

The tape is cut and a spot of glue or other adhesive applied almostsimultaneosuly whenever the core of the solenoid 137 moves the knife132. A projection 148 fixed to the underside of the knife movestherewith against the back face of the tape holder 134, swinging theholder 5 about its pivot until the opposite face of the holder carriesthe tape which it holds thereon against a glue applying roller 149. Thiswill provide a spot of glue G to the cut tape 82. Roller 149 is suppliedwith glue from a glue feeding roller 151 rotated'in a reservoir of glue152 as by a constantly driven glue feeding motor 153 driving appropriategears 154 which in turn suitably move the glue applying and feedingrollers in a manner readily understood.

For proper operation it is necessary that the banding tape be driven,cut and glue applied in advance of the time when a stack is to be movedthereagainst, but after arprevious length of strip has been used to banda stack of envelopes. Therefore, when the single cycle revolution ofpull y shaft 71 is started, driving pin 73 on the disc 72 is positionedto enter immediately into a slot on the Geneva gear '74 and turn thetransporting frame 90 during the first 90 of rotation of the shaft 71.On the other hand, the Geneva driving pin 110 on the disc 108 is sopositioned that it does not begin to move the tape driving Geneva gear1&9 until near the last quarter of rotation of the disc 1%. Because ofthe relative sizes chosen for the gears 101, 192, 164 and 106, the shaft167 and the disc 168 are moving at a slower rate of speed than the shaft'71 and the transporting frame 28 has completed its quarter turn in thefirst quarter of rotation of the shaft 71. Therefore at some time afterthe transporting frame has been moved and stopped, the tape drivingGeneva 109 will be actuated to drive the tape rapidly, actually shootingit out from between the driving roller 128 and the idler 129. Timing ofactuation of the tape cutoff solenoid 137 is obtained from one of theelements in the drive which makes but a single revolution during abanding cycle. Shown here is a switch operating arm 156 on the disc '72adapted to strike against and move the actuator of a solenoid energizingswitch 157 during the last few degrees of movement of the disc 72. Inpractice it may be preferable to mount this switch operating arm on thedisc 108 with the switch 157 actuated during the last few degrees ofmovement of the element 103 for more precise timing relative to themotion of the tape drive. The switch 157 is connected to solenoid 137 inan obvious manner so that the solenoid is actuated and the knife 1132moved against the cutting edge 133. to sever the tape and apply a spotof glue just after driving of the tape has been stopped.

The spring holding arms 144 then frictionally hold the and glued tapefrom the tape holder 134 in position ready for the next bandingoperation.

Reviewing the operation of the machine, it will be seen that envelopeswill be counted and collected on the table strips 59 at the collectingstation until a full count has been reached. A signal from the counterthen starts the drive of the transporting frame and snaps it through itscycle of one quarter turn. Envelopes for the next batch will continue tobe delivered to the collecting station as they are counted. Theenvelopes in the moving stack will be turned in their arcuate path, fromhorizontal to vertical position, being jogged while they travel, andwill strike against a freely hanging precut and preglued length of papertape. As movement of the stack continues, the tape will be wrappedaround the stack of envelopes forming a bundle, the tape being pulledfree from its frictional anchor in the process, and the lower bandapplying element will fold the lower end of the tape upwardly around thebottom of the bundle, the upper band applying element then folding theupper end of the tape over the top edge of the bundle in overlappingrelationship with the lower tape end, the bundle being held on thedelivery table at that stage after retraction of the lifting blades onthe transporting frame.

.The bundle thus produced will have pressed against the overlapping endsof the tape on the previous bundle, allowing the glue previously appliedto stick the ends of the tape in the previous bundle together. Anappropriate bundle follower 158 in the form of a slidable weight may beplaced on the table 81 to serve as a movable backing or support for thebundles of envelopes being produced. This is customary in many machinesof the general character here under discussion, but it serves theadditional purpose in the present machine of assisting in the sealing ofthe ends of the tape together as bundle after bundle reaches thereceiving table.

Immediately after one wrapped bundle has been positioned on the deliverytable 181 the drive is started to supply another length of precut andpreglued tape. The is done actually after movement of the envelopetransporting frame has been stopped and before any subsequent cycle ofthis transporting frame can be started.

The machine may be altered to serve as a tabber, that is, to insertunglued strips in the form of projecting tabs between batches of acertain predetermined number of envelopes. This is done by changing thetape drive to one which will feed only about half the length of papertape as that required for banding, providing no effective glue-applyingarrangement, and disabling the upper band-applying element 84.

Because the banding machine itself does not contain the countingmechanism but merel goes through its cycle whenever a starting impulseis received from the counter after an accumulated count, there is noproblem hi changing the number of envelopes in each stack, even in themiddle of a run. All that is required is to change the output setting ofthe counter which is actuated by impulses from the photocell so that itproduces an output signal after the desired changed number of envelopeshas been detected.

Although the stack lifting blades or fingers 34 are shown here in pairs,any other desired number may be used in each set. Also, although usuallycalled blades, they may have a sectional shape other than the flat formshown, as long as the stack lifting surfaces of each set are located,when extended, in a single plane approximately radially of the axis ofrotation of the transporting frame.

The end pieces 29 and 3% of the frame need not be cross shaped, butcould be any other desired shape as long as provision is made formounting the sets of lifting blades at proper spacing around the axis ofthe frame. Four sets of blades are shown because this number lendsitself to easy indexing through an increment of 90 as by the Geneva geararrangement shown and has proven to be the best arrangement for theperformance desired.

Fewer or greater numbers of lifting blade sets might be used on thetransporting frame with appropriate changes in the blade driving andindexing arrangements. However, changes in the indexing angle tosomething substantially above or below 90 should be made with carebecause of accompanying problems in proper positioning and holding ofenvelopes at the collecting or receiving stations.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects ofthis invention are not limited to the particular details set forth as anexample, and it is contemplated that various and other modifications andapplications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Itis therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover suchmodifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A machine for wrapping stacks of counted articles of the characterdescribed in bands of tape, comprising a stationary open top articlecollecting station adapted to accommodate horizontally arranged articlesin a vertically extending stack therein, means for counting and feedingarticles horizontally to said station, a horizontal receiving tableadapted to accommodate vertically arranged articles in horizontallyextending wrapped bundles thereon, means for lifting and turning a saidstack through an arcuate path upwardly from said collecting station tosaid receiving table including a stack transporting frame rotatablymounted on a horizontal axis alongside said collecting station, foursets of stack lifting blades spaced equally around said frame andmounted to move with relation to the frame between one position wheresaid blades extend radially outwardly beyond the frame toward saidcollecting station and another position where said blades are retractedWithin said frame, means rotatably indexing said frame in increments ofin one direction about its axis whenever a preselected number of countedarticles accumulates at said station, one set of blades being carried bysaid frame during each indexed increment of said frame from a firstlocation horizontally alongside the axis of the frame and under saidcollecting station to a second location vertically above said axis andalongside said receiving table, means moving said blades to said oneradially extending position at said first location and maintaining saidblades extended while indexing therefrom to said second location,whereby a stack is adapted to be lifted from said collecting station bya set of blades, turned in said arcuate path and deposited at saidreceiving table as said transporting frame is indexed, and means movingsaid blades to the other, retracted position after reaching said secondlocation, tapering arcuate guides inside and outside the path ofmovement of said extended blades adapted to confine and jog a stackbeing moved and turned by said blades, means driving a predeterminedlength of banding tape, means cutting said length, means applying a spotof glue thereto near the upper end of the cut length and meansfrictionally holding and freely suspending said cut and glued length oftape at its upper end vertically in advance of said second location inthe path of movement of a stack being lifted and turned by said blades,engagement of the moving stack against the tape pulling the tape free ofthe holding means, band applying means folding said tape first aroundthe bottom and next around the top of a stack as it reaches saidreceiving table at said second location, the glued end thereby overlapping the other end of the tape and the movement of a following stackto said receiving table pressing the overlapping ends of the tape on apreceding stack together to secure the ends of the tape and complete abanded bundle.

. 2. A machine for Wrapping stacks of counted articles of the characterdescribed in bands of tape comprising an article collecting stationadapted to collect horizontally arranged articles in a verticallyextending stack therein from a counting and feeding source, a receivingtable adapted to receive vertically arranged articles in horizontallyextending bundles thereon, means for moving and turning a stack fromsaid collecting station through an arcuate path to said receiving tableincluding a stack transporting frame rotatably mounted on a horizontalaxis alongside said collecting station, a set of stack lifting blades onsaid frame mounted to move with relation to the frame between oneposition where said blades extend radially outwardly beyond the frametoward said collecting station and another position where said bladesare retracted Within said frame, means rotat ably indexing said frame inone direction about its axis when a counted stack is collected at saidstation, said set of blades being carried by said frame during indexingof said frame from a first location alongside the frame and under saidcollecting station to a second location above said frame and alongsidesaid receiving table, means moving said blades to said one radiallyextending position at said first location and maintaining said bladesextended while indexing therefrom to said second location, whereby astack is adapted to be moved from said collecting station by said bladesand deposited at said receiving table as said transporting frame isindexed, and means moving said blades to the other, retracted positionafter reaching said second location, guides alongside the path ofmovement of said blades adapted to confine a stack being moved andturned by said blades, means holding a length of handing tape in advanceof said second location in the path of movement of a stack being carriedby said blades, and band applying means folding said tape around a stackreaching said receiving table to complete a banded bundle.

3. A machine for Wrapping stacks of counted articles of the characterdescribed in bands of tape comprising a stationary rectangularcollecting station adapted to collect articles in a stack therein from acounting and feed-- ing source, a receiving table adapted to receivearticles in bundles thereon, means for moving a stack from said stationto said table including a stack transporting frame mounted to movealongside said collecting station and said receiving table, sets ofstack moving blades carried by said frame and mounted to move withrelation to the frame between one position where said blades extendoutwardly beyond the frame toward said collecting station and receivingtable and another position where said 'blades are retracted within saidframe, means indexing said frame in one direction when a counted stackis collected at said station, one set of blades being carried by saidframe during each indexing of said frame from a first location adjacentsaid collecting station to a second location adjacent said receivingtable, means moving said blades to said one outwardly extending positionat said first location and maintaining said blades extended whileindexing therefrom to said second location, whereby a stack is adaptedto be moved from said collecting station to said receiving table by aset of blades as said transporting frame'is indexed, and means movingsaid blades to the other, retracted position after reaching said secondlocation, guides alongside the path of movement of said extended bladesadapted to confine a stack being moved by said blades, means holding alength of banding tape in advance of said second location in the path ofmovement of a stack being carried by said blades, and band applyingmeans folding said tape around a stack reaching said receiving table tocomplete a banded bundle.

4. In a machine for separating stacks of counted fiat articles by stripsof tape inserted therebetween, an article collecting station at onelevel adapted to accommodate verticmly extending stacks of horizontallyarranged articles, means for counting and feeding articles horizontallyto said collecting station, a horizontal receiving table at a higherlevel adapted to accormnodate horizontally extending stacks ofvertically arranged articles, means for lifting and turning a countedstack upwardly from said collecting station level through an arcuatepath to said horizontal receiving table level including sets of stacklifting blades driven in an arcuate path between 'said collectingstation and said receiving table, arcuate guides adapted to confinestacks moved and turned by said blades, means frictionally holding andfreely suspending a length of tape in the path of movement of a stackcarried by said blades in advance of said horizontal receiving table,the movement of a stack against the tape pulling said tape free of itsfrictionally holding means and carrying it'in front of the stack wherebysaid stack is separated from a previous stack on said receiving table bythe length of tape thus inserted.

5. In a machine for separating stacks of counted fiat articles by stripsof tape inserted therebetween, an article collecting station adapted toaccommodate stacks of articles individually counted and fed thereto, areceiving table adapted to accommodate stacks of counted articles, meansfor moving and turning a stack of counted articles from said collectingstation through an arcuate path to said receiving table including setsof stack moving blades driven in an arcuate path between said collectingstation and said receiving table, arcuate guides adapted to confine astack being moved and turned by said blades, 7

means friction-ally holding a length of tape in the path of movement ofa stack carried by said blades in advance 12 of said receiving table,the movement of a stack against the tape pulling the tape free of itsfrictionally holding means and carrying it in front of the stack wherebysaid stack is separated from a previous stack on said receiving table bythe length of tape thus inserted.

6. In a machine for separating stacks of flat articles by strips of tapeinserted therebetween, a collecting station adapted to collect stacks ofsaid articles fed there-to, said articles being inclined substantiallyaway from the vertical at said collecting station; :a receiving stationadapted to receive stacks from said collecting station, said articlesbeing substantially vertical at said receiving station; means for movinga stack from said collecting station to said receiving station includinga set of stack moving blades driven arcuately "between said collectingstation and said receiving station; guides adapted to confine and alignstacks moved by said blades; means holding a length or" tape in the pathof movement of a stack carried by said blades in advance of saidreceiving station,

the movement of a stack against the tape being accompanied by releasingof the tape from its holding means and the stack carrying the tape infront of it whereby said stack is separated from a previous stack atsaid receiving station by the length of tape thus inserted.

7. In a machine for Wrapping stacks of counted articles of the characterdescribed in bands, a means for moving said stacks to a band wrappingmeans comprising a stack transporting frame rotatably mounted on ahorizontal axis, four sets of stack lifting blades spaced equally aroundsaid frame and pivotally mounted to move with relation to the framebetween one position where said blades extend radially outwardly beyondthe frame and another position where said blades are retracted withinsaid frame, means resiliently biasing said blades toward said retractedposition, means rotatably indexing said frame in increments of in onedirection about its axis, one set of blades being carried by said framefrom a first location horizontally alongside the axis of the frame to asecond location vertically above said frame axis during each indexedincrement of said frame, a stationary cam pivoting said blades to saidone radially extending position at said first location and maintainingsaid blades extended While indexing therefrom to said second location,said cam permitting pivoting of said blades by said biasing means to theother, retracted position after reaching said second location, and bandWrapping means located adjacent said second location in the path ofmovement of a stack carried by said blades.

8. In a machine for wrapping stacks of articles of the characterdescribed in bands, a means for moving said stacks to a band wrappingmeans comprising a rotatably mounted stack transporting frame, sets ofstack moving blades spaced equally around said frame and mounted to movewith relation to the frame between one position where said blades extendoutwardly beyond the frame and another position where said blades areretracted within said frame, means rotatably indexing saidframe inincrements in one direction, one set of blades being carried by saidframe from a first location alongside the frame to a second locationangularly displaced from said first location during each indexedincrement of said frame, means moving said blades to said one outwardlyextending position at said first location and maintaining said bladesextended while indexing therefrom to said second location, and meansmoving said blades to the other, retracted position after reaching saidsecond loca tion, and band wrapping means located in the path ofmovement of a stack carried by said blades.

9. In a machine for wrapping stacks of articles of the characterdescribed in hands, a means for moving said stacks to a band wrappingmeans comprising a movably mounted transporting frame, a set of stackmoving blades on said frame and mounted to move with relation to theframe between one position where said blades extend outwardly beyond theframe and another position where said blades are retracted, meansindexing said frarne in one direction between a first and a secondlocation, said set oi blades being carried by said frame from said firstlocation to said second location during each indexing of said frame,means moving said blades to said one extending position at said firstlocation and maintaining said blades extended while indexing therefromto said second location, and means moving said blades to the other,retracted position, after reaching said second location, and bandWrapping means adjacent said second location.

10. In banding machine wherein a stack of envelope like articles is tobe handed by a predetermined cut length of tape having a glue spotapplied thereto, a fixed horizontal tape cutting edge, a cooperatinghorizontally reciprocating knife, means driving a predetermined lengthof tape vertically between said edge and said knife, a p'voted tapeguiding and holding element below said edge and knife in the path ofmovement of tape driven between said edge and knife, spring means onsaid holding element for guiding and frictionally holding .tape thereon,a glue applying source located adjacent said pivoted element forapplying a glue spot to tape held thereon when said element is pivotedto a glue applying position, means moving said knife against saidcutting edge to cut the tape when a predetermined length has been driventherebetween, a projection on said knife engageable with said pivotedelement whereby tape cutting movement of said knife moves said pivotedelement to said glue applying position and the holding means on saidpivoted element thereafter holds the cut and glued predetermined lengthof tape vertically for use in \banding a stack of said articles.

11. A machine of the character set forth in claim 9, wherein said bandwrapping means comprises a lower band applying element actuated first byengagement of said indexing transporting frame thereagainst, and anupper hand applying element later actuated by engagement of said stackmoving blades in extending position thereagainst.

12. A machine of the character set forth in claim 9, wherein said bandwrapping means comprises a lower band applying element and an upper bandapplying element each actuated separately and sequentially by engagementof said indexing transporting frame thereagainst.

13. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said means for moving astack is a rotary means, said stack moving blades being driven in acircular are between said collecting station and said receiving station,and said guides comprise opposed stationary arcuate members convergingtoward each other to confine and align stacks moved by said blades,whereby said flat articles are jogged to align their edges as a stack ofsaid articles is moved from said collecting station to said receivingstation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,917,884 Winlder Dec. 22, 1959 2,951,697 Bernhart Sept. 6, 19602,998,972 Pearce Sept. 5, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 858,142 Great BritainJan. 4, 1961 625,166 Canada Aug. 8, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,122,870 March 3, 1964 KurtStemmler It; is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 47, for "mechanisms" read mechanism line 71, before"envelopes" insert of column 6, line 34, for "came" read cam column 8,line 48, before "and" insert cut column 9, line 11, for "The" read ThisSigned and sealed this 5th day of January 1965,,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER A testing Officer Commissioner ofPatents

6. IN A MACHINE FOR SEPARATING STACKS OF FLAT ARTICLES BY STRIPS OF TAPEINSERTED THEREBETWEEN, A CLLECTING STATION ADAPTED TO COLLECT STACKS OFSAID ARTICLES FED THERETO, SAID ARTICLES BEING INCLUINED SUBSTANTIALLYAWAY FROM THE VERTICAL AT SAID COLLECTING STATION; A RECEIVING STATIONSADAPTED TO RECEIVE STACKS FROM SAID COLLECTING STATION, SAID ARTICLESBEING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AT SAID RECEIVING STATION; MEANS FOR MOVINGA STACK FROM SAID COLLECTING STATION TO SAID RECEIVING STATION INCLUDINGA SET OF STACK MOVING BLADES DRIVEN ARCURATELY BETWEEN SAID COLLECTINGSTATION AND SAID RECEIVING STATINO INCLUDING A SET OF STACK MOVING ALIGNSTACKS MOVED BY SAID BLADES; MEANS HOLDING A LENGTH OF TAPE IN THE PATHOF MOVEMENT OF A STACK CARRIED BY SAID BLADES IN ADVANCE OF SAIDRECEIVING STATION, THE MOVEMENT OF A STACK AGAINST THE TAPE BEINGACCOMPANIED BY RELEASING OF THE TAPE FROM ITS HOLDING MEANS AND THESTACK CARRYING THE TAPE IN FRONT OF IT WHEREBY SAID STACK IS SEPARATEDFROM A PREVIOUS STACK AT SAID RECEIVING STATION BY THE LENGTH OF TAPETHUS INSERTED.
 7. IN A MACHINE FOR WRAPPING STACKS OF COUNTED ARTICLESOF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED IN BANDS, A MEANS FOR MOVING SAID STACKS TO ABAND WRAPPING MEANS COMPRISING A STACK TRANSPORTING FRAME ROTATBLYMOUNTED ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS, FOUR SETS OF STACK LIFTING BLADES SPACEDEQUALLY AROUND SAID FRAME AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO MOVE WITH RELATION TOTHE FRAME BETWEEN ONE POSITION WHERE SAID BLADES EXTEND RADIALLYOUTWARDLY BEYOND THE FRAME AND ANOTHER POSITION WHERE SAID BLADES ARERETRACTED WITHIN SAID FRAME, MEANS RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID BLADESTOWARD SAID RETRACTED POSITION, MEANS ROTATABLY INDEXING SAID FRAME ININCREMENTS OF 90* IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT ITS AXIS, ONE SET OF BLADESBEING CARRIED BY SAID FRAME FROM A FIRST LOCATION HORIZONTALLY ALONGSIDETHE AXIS OF THE FRAME TO A SECOND LOCATION VERTICALLY ABOVE SAID FRAMEAXIS DURING EACH INDEXED INCREMENT OF SAID FRAME, A STATIONARY CAMPIVOTING SAID BLADES TO SAID ONE RADIALLY EXTENDING POSITION AT SAIDFIRST LOCATION AND MAINTAINING SAID BLADES EXTENDED WHILE INDEXINGTHEREFROM TO SAID SECOND LOCATION, SAID CAM PERMITTING PIVOTING OF SAIDBLADES BY SAID BIASING MEANS TO THE OTHER, RETRACTED POSITION AFTERREACHING SAID SECOND LOCATION, AND BAND WRA